I don't think any of us really knows why we're here. But I think we're supposed to believe we're here for a purpose.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the search for purpose in life and the belief that everyone has a reason for existence.
Ray Charles expresses a common human sentiment: the idea that, while the ultimate reason for our existence may remain a mystery, it is essential to embrace the belief that our lives have significance and purpose. This perspective encourages individuals to seek meaning in their experiences, relationships, and contributions to the world around them.
In practice
In a motivational speech about finding personal goals.
I suppose I've always done my share of crying, especially when there's no other way to contain my feelings. I know that men ain't supposed to cry, but I think that's wrong. Crying's always been a way for me to get things out which are buried deep, deep down. When I sing, I often cry. Crying is feeling, and feeling is being human. Oh yes, I cry.
I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.
To me, music is entertainment - what else can it be? In fact, it's the only language I know of that's universal.
Just because you can't see anything , doesn't mean you should shut your eyes.
Any artist, when he goes in to record, should have the feeling that any song he records can be a hit. This may sound egotistical, but it makes sense.
When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it.
Americans are a very backward people, with all the real virtues of a backward people; the patriarchal simplicity and human dignity of a democracy, and a respect for labor uncorrupted by cynicism.
The tragedy of this world is that everyone is alone. For a life in the past cannot be shared with the present.
Being is. Being is in-itself. Being is what it is.
This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice and love.
Death when unmasked shows us a friendly face and is a terror only at a distance.
Man's life is like a drop of dew on a leaf.
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